Differences in gene conversion rates among exons between HLA-A and HLA-B loci. 1999

H Inutsuka
Computer Center for Medical Research, Kurume University, Japan.

To examine whether gene conversion occurs between two homologous loci of HLA-A and HLA-B, DNA sequences were compared and the differences or the numbers of substitutions per site at synonymous and nonsynonymous sites were calculated in the coding region and in the non-coding region. (1) Totally differences at synonymous sites in introns and coding regions are small as compared with the differences in the 5' flanking region. This indicates that gene conversion should occur between HLA-A and HLA-B loci. (2) In exon2 and exon3, the differences at synonymous sites are smaller than at nonsynonymous sites. This suggests that these exons are subject to positive natural selection, which is consistent with the reports of Hughes and Nei [1,2], because exon2 and exon3 encode alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of the HLA molecule respectively which include mainly the antigen recognition sites (ARS). (3) in exon4, the difference at the synonymous site is the same as that in the 5' flanking region, which suggests that gene conversion does not frequently occur. The difference in this exon is extremely small at the nonsynonymous sites. This exon encodes the alpha 3 domain which does not have the antigen recognition sites but have an important function in maintaining the structure of the HLA molecule. From the above results, it can be concluded that gene conversion between HLA-A and HLA-B occurs more frequently in the two exons, exon2 and exon3 which have ARS regions. Furthermore, to examine a possibility that the variability of GC content along sequence influences the difference, the GC content was calculated along the sequence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002874 Chromosome Mapping Any method used for determining the location of and relative distances between genes on a chromosome. Gene Mapping,Linkage Mapping,Genome Mapping,Chromosome Mappings,Gene Mappings,Genome Mappings,Linkage Mappings,Mapping, Chromosome,Mapping, Gene,Mapping, Genome,Mapping, Linkage,Mappings, Chromosome,Mappings, Gene,Mappings, Genome,Mappings, Linkage
D005091 Exons The parts of a transcript of a split GENE remaining after the INTRONS are removed. They are spliced together to become a MESSENGER RNA or other functional RNA. Mini-Exon,Exon,Mini Exon,Mini-Exons
D005785 Gene Conversion The asymmetrical segregation of genes during replication which leads to the production of non-reciprocal recombinant strands and the apparent conversion of one allele into another. Thus, e.g., the meiotic products of an Aa individual may be AAAa or aaaA instead of AAaa, i.e., the A allele has been converted into the a allele or vice versa. Polar Recombination,Polaron,Conversion, Gene,Conversions, Gene,Gene Conversions,Polar Recombinations,Polarons,Recombination, Polar,Recombinations, Polar
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000483 Alleles Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product. Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D015234 HLA-A Antigens Polymorphic class I human histocompatibility (HLA) surface antigens present on almost all nucleated cells. At least 20 antigens have been identified which are encoded by the A locus of multiple alleles on chromosome 6. They serve as targets for T-cell cytolytic responses and are involved with acceptance or rejection of tissue/organ grafts. Antigens, HLA-A,HLA-A,Antigens, HLA A,HLA A Antigens
D015235 HLA-B Antigens Class I human histocompatibility (HLA) surface antigens encoded by more than 30 detectable alleles on locus B of the HLA complex, the most polymorphic of all the HLA specificities. Several of these antigens (e.g., HLA-B27, -B7, -B8) are strongly associated with predisposition to rheumatoid and other autoimmune disorders. Like other class I HLA determinants, they are involved in the cellular immune reactivity of cytolytic T lymphocytes. Antigens, HLA-B,HLA-B Antigen,HLA-B,Antigen, HLA-B,Antigens, HLA B,HLA B Antigen,HLA B Antigens

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